impinge

UK: /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/ US: /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/ ,(im pinj′)

Inflections of 'impinge' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

impinges

v 3rd person singular

impinging

v pres p

impinged

v past

impinged

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•pinge /ɪmˈpɪndʒ/   v. [~ + on/upon] , -pinged, -ping•ing. 

1. to intrude on;
   infringe:
   to impinge on another's rights.
2. to strike;
   collide:
   light that impinges on the lens.
3. to make an impression;
   have an effect.

im•pinge•ment, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

im•pinge  (im pinj′), v., -pinged, -ping•ing. 
v.i. 

1. to make an impression;
   have an effect or impact (usually fol. by on or upon):
   to impinge upon the imagination; social pressures that impinge upon one's daily life.
2. to encroach;
   infringe (usually fol. by on or upon):
   to impinge on another's rights.
3. to strike;
   dash;
   collide (usually fol. by on, upon, or against):
   rays of light impinging on the eye.

v.t. 

4. [Obs.] to come into violent contact with.

• Medieval Latin impingere to strike against, drive at, equivalent. to Latin im- im-¹ + -pingere, combining form of pangere to fasten, drive in, fix; see impact
• 1525–35

im•ping′ent, adj. 
im•ping′er, n. 
im•pinge′ment, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

impinge / ɪmˈpɪndʒ/ verb

1. (intr; usually followed by on or upon) to encroach or infringe; trespass: to impinge on someone's time
2. (intr; usually followed by on, against, or upon) to collide (with); strike

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin impingere to drive at, dash against, from pangere to fasten, drive in

imˈpingement noun

imˈpinger noun